situations that might cause an attack. For instance, if cold air or exercise makes you wheeze, you should take albuterol or a similar drug, according to your doctor’s instructions, 15 minutes before working out.
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How can I avoid asthma triggers?
While medications bring your disease under control, you can do your part by avoiding the things that irritate your lungs and trigger attacks. One of the worst offenders is tobacco smoke. People with asthma should shun cigarettes and stay away from smoke-filled rooms. If someone else in your household smokes, urge him or her to quit. At the very least, the smoker should take the habit outside.
Many people with asthma have allergies that can set off attacks. The dust mites that live in mattresses and pillows are common culprits. You may be able to improve your breathing dramatically by washing your bed linens and blankets once a week, enclosing pillows and mattresses in zippered airtight covers, and removing carpets from the bedroom.
If you’re allergic to cat dander, ask yourself if you really need a cat in your life. If you can’t live without one, keep the pet out of your bedroom, bathe it regularly, wash your hands after petting it, and keep the kitty litter box in a room that you don’t frequent.
You can control pollen allergies by keeping your windows closed during pollen season and installing a special allergy filter in your air conditioner. If you’re allergic to molds, clean damp areas frequently and consider buying a dehumidifier to keep the air dry. (A special allergy filter can also help filter mold spores in the air.)
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If you are extremely allergic and it’s impossible to avoid dander, pollen, or other things that cause allergic reactions, talk to your allergist about immunotherapy. This treatment involves small injections of the proteins that trigger your allergies. After a while, your body may become less allergic to the proteins.
In general, it’s wise to avoid asthma triggers, but there’s one big exception to the rule. If exercise causes asthma attacks, DON’T give up on exercising. As already mentioned, keep an inhaler within easy reach. A bronchodilator taken before the workout can prevent an attack, and a warm, humid exercise environment can help. You may need to take a break on days when your asthma is particularly troublesome, but you can still make exercise an enjoyable — and healthy — part of your life.